Easy Appetizers With Dates – 3 Festive Skewer Ideas
Holiday entertaining is more magical when the bites are small, beautiful, and full of flavour. These festive skewers are easy appetizers with dates, made with soft, caramel-sweet Deglet Noor dates layered with bright, festive ingredients. Perfect for sharing and snacking, they bring a touch of holiday cheer to any gathering.
Ingredients
Labneh, Pineapple, Pickled Cherry Peppers & Date Skewers
- 12 pitted Deglet Noor dates
- ⅓ cup labneh room temperature
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
- 12 pineapple chunks 1 inch cubes
- 12 pickled cherry peppers seeded and quartered
- 12 Castelvetrano olives pitted and halved
- 12 small mint leaves
- 12 cocktail skewers ~3 inch
Blue Cheese, Prosciutto & Date Skewers
- 12 pitted Deglet Noor dates
- 40 g blue cheese softened
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 prosciutto ribbons 1 by 2 inch strips
- 12 grapes red or black, cut in half
- 1 tablespoon toasted almonds chopped
- 12 microgreens sweet pea shoots or parsley sprigs
- 12 cocktail skewers ~3 inch
Everything Bagel, Salmon, Cream Cheese & Date Skewers
- 12 pitted Deglet Noor dates
- ½ cup cream cheese room temperature
- 1 tablespoon caper brine
- 1 teaspoon everything bagel seasoning
- Marinated red onions cut into 1" squares. (Marinate onions in 6 teaspoon olive oil and ¼ teaspoon dry dill)
- 12 smoked salmon squares 1 by 2 inch strips, folded
- 12 cucumber half moons ½ inch thick
- 12 dill pieces
- 12 cocktail skewers ~3 inch
Instructions
- Before you begin, prep all the elements so assembly is quick and easy. Cut the pineapple into bite-size chunks, slice the cucumbers into half moons, fold the smoked salmon pieces, halve the cherry peppers, and have the olives, grapes, herbs, nuts, and fillings ready. With everything prepped and within reach, the skewers come together in minutes.
Labneh, Pineapple, Pickled Cherry Peppers & Date Skewers
- Mix labneh, olive oil, and lemon zest until smooth.
- Stuff each date with 1 teaspoon labneh mixture.
- Skewer: mint → olive → stuffed date → cherry pepper → pineapple.
- Chill until 15–20 minutes before serving. Optional: brush with olive oil or sprinkle sea salt on pineapple.
Blue Cheese, Prosciutto & Date Skewers
- Toast almonds at 160°C (325°F) for 8–10 min; cool and chop.
- Mix blue cheese with olive oil; let sit 15–30 min.
- Stuff dates with 1 teaspoon blue cheese; press chopped almonds onto filling.
- Skewer: ½ grape → microgreen → prosciutto wrapped stuffed date → ½ grape
- Chill until 15–20 minutes before serving. Optional: brush lightly with olive oil.
Everything Bagel, Cream Cheese & Date Skewers
- Mix cream cheese and caper brine.
- Stuff dates with 1 teaspoon cream cheese mixture, then press everything bagel seasoning onto the filling.
- Skewer: smoked salmon strip with dill → marinated onion → stuffed date → cucumber
- Chill until ready to serve; drizzle olive oil if desired.
Arrange
- Arrange the skewers upright on a cutting board or a flat serving dish. Sprinkle a few edible flowers, microgreens or pomegranate arils around the platter for an elegant, holiday-ready presentation.
💬Tried this recipe?
- We'd really appreciate a rating and quick review! It helps more home cooks find the recipe, and we love hearing what you think.
Video
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!